Ever since I was a child, I gobbled up books. I used to sit in my room, and look at the author photos and bio on the inside dust cover. I imagined what my picture and my bio would look like. I just finished my first novel. It went through three versions, and multiple revisions. … Continue reading I Never Thought I’d Write a Novel

UPDATE: The bill has been tabled indefinitely. Disclaimer: I'm not a political analyst. I'm not even a civics teacher. This is my understanding of the events as they are at 5:55AM on 2/19/2019. These opinions are mine and mine alone. They do not represent my district. I have done my best to stick to the facts … Continue reading 2019 West Virginia Teacher Strike Explained

As an extension of my newfound love of artful creation, I bought a Huion 1060 digital tablet. For the uninitiated, a digital tablet allows your mouse to mimic a pen. They're pressure sensitive, and they have all kinds of bells and whistles that allow the user to simulate a natural pen or brush stroke. So … Continue reading Digital Art with Bob Ross

"Good morning ladies and Gentlemen." I shut the door to my classroom behind me. The old oak door slams loudly against the frame, jarring my students just enough so that they'll give me their attention. "Good morning Mister Stokes." A handful of them echo my greeting. I'm grateful for the attention I get. Teaching in … Continue reading Appalachian Hope: Epilogue

The parking lot of Higgins Funeral home took me back to a time when I spent my Friday nights parked at the produce stand on the south side of town. Every manner of beater car and old pickup truck were parked in orderly rows. Jeb, Kenny, and Steven were smoking with old man Higgins near … Continue reading Appalachian Hope: Chapter 25

My phone buzzed in my pocket loudly enough for Doctor Nixon to give me side-eye. We were near the end of the lecture, so he decided to let it slide. "Now, Thoreau advocated for a life of purposeful simplicity." Nixon restarted his final point in an hour-long lecture, "He argued that technologies meant to make … Continue reading Appalachian Hope: Chapter 24